taxes. three hours before the midnight deadline, senate majority leader mitch mcconnell and vice president joe biden emerged with a compromise on taxes and agreed to wait on slashing spending. >> this was the mini cliff. the big cliff still lies in front of us. >> reporter: president obama had scolded congress for waiting so long. >> one thing we can count on with respect to this congress is that if there's even one second left before you have to do what you're supposed to do, they will use that last second. >> reporter: the bush-era tax cuts remain in place for individuals earning as much as $400,000 a year, far above the 250,000 level on which president obama campaigned. but those making more will see higher income taxes, capital gains, plus a new health care reform surtax. rob wood says you'll notice in your paycheck one popular tax cut will be history. >> the average person, say, earning $50,000 a year is going to pay about $1,000 more in payroll taxes in 2013. >> reporter: the fiscal cl